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Just say ‘know’: how do cannabinoid concentrations influence users' estimates of cannabis potency and the amount they roll in joints?
Author(s) -
Freeman Tom P.,
Morgan Celia J. A.,
Hindocha Chandni,
Schafer Gráinne,
Das Ravi K.,
Curran H. Valerie
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/add.12634
Subject(s) - cannabis , cannabinoid , potency , dronabinol , marijuana smoking , delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol , endocannabinoid system , tetrahydrocannabinol , psychology , medicine , pharmacology , chemistry , psychiatry , substance abuse , polysubstance dependence , receptor , in vitro , biochemistry
Aims (1) To determine whether measured concentrations of delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) and cannabidiol ( CBD ) in individuals' own cannabis predict their estimates of drug potency and actual titration; and (2) to ascertain if these effects are influenced by frequency of use and cannabis type. Design Cross‐sectional, naturalistic. Setting Participants' own homes. Participants A total of 247 cannabis users in the U nited K ingdom: 152 ‘recreational’ (1–24 days/month) and 95 ‘daily’ (≥25 days/month). Methods Participants rated their own cannabis for its potency (1–10) and type (‘resin’, ‘herbal’, ‘skunk’) before smoking it in front of the researcher. The amount of cannabis (g) used in their joints was recorded and an additional sample was analysed for THC and CBD concentrations (%). Findings THC concentrations were related negatively to the amount of cannabis used [unstandardized regression coefficient: b = −0.009, 95% confidence interval ( CI) = −0.017, −0.002]. Potency estimates were predicted by increasing THC (b = 0.055, 95% CI = 0.020, 0.090) and decreasing CBD (b = −0.160, 95% CI = −0.284, −0.062), and both of these associations were mediated by cannabis type ( THC : b = 0.018, 95% CI = 0.006, 0.037; CBD : b = −0.105, 95% CI = −0.198, −0.028). Potency estimates were more reflective of THC as frequency of use increased (b = 0.004, 95% CI = 0.001 , 0.007) and were 7.3 times more so in daily (partial r = 0.381) than recreational users ( r = 0.052). Conclusions When using their own cannabis in a naturalistic setting, people titrate the amount they roll in joints according to concentrations of delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) but not cannabidiol ( CBD ). Recreational users thus show poor understanding of cannabis potency.